The supply and availability of these two vegetables have increased with the entry of district supplies department, which has ensured that they are available at fair price shops. District Supply Officer K D Chandnani claimed potatoes were being sold for anything between Rs 12 and Rs 15 per kilogram while onions were available for anything between Rs 15 and Rs 20 for the same quantity.

The fair price shop owners were purchasing the vegetables from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee's Sardar Yard at wholesale prices. It was difficult to quantify the vegetables sold through these shops as their number was increasing every day.

The arrangement began with about 50 shops a couple of days ago and rose to 200 on Wednesday. The city has about 450 fair price shops located in different parts. He claimed vegetables were available in plenty. Moreover, anybody could buy vegetables from fair price shops as there was no need for ration cards. Also, Tata salt was being sold through these shops at printed prices.

Programme Executive of National Horticulture Board J B Singh described the situation as better. He said retail prices of quality vegetables were still high but the perishable ones were available cheap. The wholesale price of quality potatoes in the APMC market was Rs 12 to Rs 15 and of onions from Rs 45 to Rs 50.